KUGOMPO CITY – A total of 50 new healthcare professionals have been appointed at Frere Tertiary Hospital in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, as part of efforts to strengthen clinical and management capacity in the Eastern Cape province’s key tertiary hospitals.
According to a statement issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Health, the appointments were distributed as follows:
- 1 senior manager for medical services;
- 2 heads of department;
- 2 heads of clinical units;
- 4 clinical specialists (2 paediatrics, 1 general surgery and 1 anaesthetics);
- 11 medical doctors;
- 24 nurses, including 1 area manager for outpatient departments; and
- 6 allied health professionals (4 physiotherapists, 1 speech therapist and 1 occupational therapist).
The statement noted this recruitment drive was funded through a combination of the National Tertiary Services Grant (NTSG) and Ministerial funding.
The statement further noted that Frere Tertiary Hospital is a specialist referral hospital serving the Central Region of the Eastern Cape, covering the districts of Amathole, Buffalo City, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi, with a drainage population of approximately 3,2 million people.
“The hospital has 868 approved beds across 35 active wards and attends to an average of 23 000 outpatients and 20 000 inpatients per month, amounting to more than 100 000 patients per quarter. Despite facing staffing challenges, the hospital recorded a bed utilisation rate of 73,4%, above the national norm of 63,9%, underscoring the pressure placed on clinical services and the urgency of strengthening human resources,” the statement explained.
Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC Capa said the appointments represent a decisive step towards stabilising and improving healthcare delivery at Frere and across the province.
“These appointments demonstrate the department’s commitment to rebuilding capacity, filling long-standing vacancies and ensuring that our hospitals are adequately staffed to meet the healthcare needs of our communities,” said Capa.
